Refrigerator



Dec. 22, 1931.

.1. w. SANFORD 1,837,293

REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 20, 1929 s sheets-sheet 1 F IG. 7.

A J INVENTOR. 1 BY A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 22, 1931.

J. w SANFORD 1,837,293

REFRIGERAT OR Filed Sept. 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w v F/aa. no.4;

a VENTOR. 43 W 0m ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 22, 1931. w QANFQRD 1,837,293

REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 20, 1929 s Sheet-Sheet 3 Fla? w i if z II I/ Ill 0 J/ A TTORNEYS.

-3/ v Q A J ENTOR.

Patented ZZ 1931' um'rso *srAr-ss mmswsmmuwmmsi p snail-resume Application filed September at, me. s mi; not. more.

This invention relates to refrigerators.v More particularly the invention relatesto; a novel arrangement of tra or rack-support for such refrigerators: an to a novel tray 1 8 or rack for use in connection therewith;

One important object of the invention is to provide improved means for, supporting; the trays or racks of, refrigerators. In'suc manner that they can be readily drawn out;

' of the refrigerator toafiord access tothe food;

supported orcarried by such tray 01? rack.

v A second importantobject of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement" of such tray support so constructed that itxmay be applied to existing refrigerators.

third object of'the invention is to provide an improved form of such device: so arranged as to prevent the tray 'or rack being drawn too far out.

A fourth important object of the invention is to rovide an improved arrangementof' this sort avi-ng; novel means 'for preventing tilt.- ing longitudinally of the rack when rawn out.

'25 A fifth important objectof the invention Is to provide a novel form of tray for re,- frigerators especially adapted to hold food. containers and to prevent such containers from moving around on the tray.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be later set forth, the invention con,- sists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed. v

In the accompanying drawings like charactors of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper part of a refrigerator, the doors'being omit; ted the better to show the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section through the supporting means and tray and showing the same in its relation to the refrigerator walls;

Figure 3 is a View somewhat similar to. Figure 2 but showing a modification of the in vention; 5

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure, 3 but such a. second modifieptioni of the invene Ion-5; Eigure 5 is; a; cross-section 12111391 81 enact thetray supporting; showing; the ePP ilcation, are. ballabeenihg m ler thereto-i I! F gure 6V is; a detail? section: n the at Ei'gure 3;; a p

Figure is; a detail? section on the line7.7 ofEi-igurewi lg;

igure. 8 1s a plan. viewofa special f rm oii trayadapted tobe used herewi h; and t Figure Q: is aside elevation of this special In each form of the.inven- .ion er in1 u treated, there isz'prjovi ded for each tray '66 or rack: a pair of supporting rails. Eachof these supporting rails is of flat rectangular tubular formf having its longest cross-sectional dimension vertical so that each railhas a back or outer side portion 1Q,,a,top 11, bottom 12 and inner side rtion 13, the latter being provided with. a ongitudinal slot exendingfrom end to, end of the railandlocated somewhat above the vertical center of v rail Thus each rail has a relatively 75. deep lower channel and a relatively shallow upper channel. Extending'between the sides; of the lower channel are short shafts or pins 15' whereon are mounted the innerra ceslB, of ball bearingshaving outer races 17. These, pins or shafts are shouldered (see Fig. 5) to. support the inner races against lateral move-v me'nt toward the inner sideof the rail and are secured against movement by any suitable means, best; indicated as-a pin 18.

Each tray or rackused herewith has a reticul'ated body 19 from the sides of which project the flanges 20 which enter the tubular rails through the respective slots 14 torest on the outer ball races 17 so that the trays may roll freely in and out of the refrigerator door opening. Each flange 20 has a downwardly turned lip 21 which engages the outer I sides of the respective races 17 7 so thatthe 9 tray is prevented from moving laterally to rub the flanges against the rail racks 10. At the, rear of each tray the flanges are turned up as at 23 to form stop members which cooper- H ate with stops 24, fixed inthe upper channels of respective rails, to limit outward. movement of the tray so that it cannot be pulled out so far as to drop on the floor and can only be intentionally removed from the rails.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rails have their backs 1O permanently fixed to the sides 25 of the food compartment, this form being best adapted for use with refrigerators bullt expressly to include the present invention and where it is not desirable to provide loose rails and racks.

In many instances, however, refrigerators alread on the market or in service may be desire to be equipped with this invention. Also, even with refrigerators manufactured to include the invention it may be desirable to have the rails removable for the pur ose of repair, replacement, cleaning the re rigerator or the like. Insuch cases forms like those shown in Figures 3 and 4 may be used and in Figures 3 and 6 it will be seen that the food compartment wall 25' is provlded with the books 26 often used in modern refri rators to hold the food racks. These ho pass through openings formed 1n the bottoms 12 of the rails and thus support the rails but permit them to be lifted off so that the rails and trays may be entirely removed from the refrigerator. In order to prevent the rails from tilting as the trays are drawn out, and also to prevent accidental dis lacement of .the rails from the hooks, suitable stops 27-are pivoted to the under sides of the rails to be swung into position below the books or to be swung free therefrom according as the rails are to be held in position or removed.

In the form shown in Figures 4 and 7, lugs 28 are fixed on the backs 10 of the rails and engage over the hooks 26. In this form also stops 29 are provided for preventing accidental displacement of the rails from the hooks. Obviously the forms of these. lugs may vary in accordance with the type of support 26 with which the refrigerator is equipped.

In the form of tray shown in Figures 8 and 9, the body 19 is divided by portions 30 so that food receptacles 31 may be placed in the compartments or-pockets thus formed.

Then has thus been provided simple and eflicient devices of the kind described and for the purposes specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the device without departing from the material principles involved. -I do not, therefore, de-

sire to conform the invention to the exact forms herein shown and described but I wish to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a refrigerator, a pair of spaced tubular rails having longitudinal slots in their confronting faces, supporting rollers mounted in the lower parts of said rails an article supporting tray having longitudinally extending flanges projecting laterally from its sides throu h said slots to rest on said rollers, 'downturneil lips on the free edges of said flanges engaging the sides of the rollers to prevent'lateral movement of the tray relative to said rails, an upturned stop at the rear end of each flange, fixed stops within said tubular rails engageable by the stops on the flanges to limit forward movement of said tray, rail supporting means on the walls of said refrigerator, and movable coopcrating means on the rails engaging beneath said rail supporting means removably in one position. to prevent disengagement of the rails from the supporting means and being free from the supporting means in another position to permit such disengagement.

2. In a refrigerator, a pair of spaced tubular rails having longitudinal slots in their confronting faces, supporting rollers mounted in the lower parts of said rails, an article supporting tray having longitudinally extending flanges projecting laterally from its sides through said slots to rest on said rollers,

rail supporting means on the walls 'of said refrigerator, cooperating means on the rails engaging said rail supporting means remov-- ably, and. stops pivoted on the under sides of said rails for swinging movement into and outof engaging position with the rail supporting means to prevent and permit disengagement of the rails from the rail supportmg means. v

3. In a refrigerator, a pair of spaced tubular rails having longitudinal slots in their confronting faces, supporting rollers mounted in the lower parts of said rails, an article supporting tray having longitudinally extending flanges projecting laterally from its sides through said slots to rest on said rollers, downturned lips on the free edges of said flanges engaging the sides of the rollers to prevent lateral movement of the tray rela tive to said rails, rail supporting hooks on the walls of said refrigerator, cooperating means on the rails engaging said rail supporting hooks removably. and stops pivoted on the under sides of said rails for swinging movement into and out of engaging position with the rail supporting means to prevent and permit disengagement by the rails from the rail supporting means.

4. In a refrigerator, a pair of spaced tubu lar rails having longitudinal slots in their confronting faces, supporting rollers mounted in the lower parts of said rails, an article supporting tray having longitudinally extending flanges projecting laterally from its sides through said slots to rest on said rollers, downturned lips on the free edges of said flanges engaging the sides of the rollers to prevent lateral movement of the tray relative to said rails, an upturned stop at the rear end of each flange, fixed sto 5 within said tubular rails engageable by t e stops on the flanges to limit forward movement of said tray, rail supporting means on the walls of said refrigerator, cooperating means on the rails engaging sald rail supporting means removably, and stops carried by said rails for movement into and out of engaging position with the rail supporting means to prevent and permit disengagement by the rails from the rail supporting means. Signed at Washington, day of September, 1929.

JOSEPH W. SANFORD.

D. (1., this sixteenth 

